Big wins for Afghanistan, Nepal, UAE

With six points each, Nepal, Afghanistan and Oman are tied at the top of the ACC Premier League

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All-round Afghanistan cruise to victory against Oman.

Afghanistan, at the Selangor Turf Club on Monday (May 5), bowled Oman out for 186 on the back of three-wicket hauls from spinners Mohammad Nabi and Samiullah Shenwari. Noor Ali Zadran then notched up an important 67 at the top, to guide Afghanistan to a comfortable five-wicket win, with 16 overs to spare, on day four of the ACC Premier League encounter.

With Oman put in to bat, openers Zeeshan Siddiqui and Zeeshan Maqsood got off to a good start, adding 76 in 13.5 overs. However, wickets fell regularly after that, with Oman reduced to 139 for 8 in the 36th over. Amir Khan and Rajesh Kumar then shared a 41-run stand for the ninth wicket, to help set Afghanistan a target of 187.

In the chase, Zadran, with his 83-ball innings that included 11 fours, added 69 for the third wicket with Nasir Ahmadzai (36), and 41 runs with Shenwari, before he was dismissed by Khawar Ali. With just 17 to get, Shenwari took the team home and added to his three wickets by scoring an unbeaten 29.

The win took Afghanistan to the top of the table with six points, joint leader with Oman and Nepal, while boasting a healthier net run-rate.

At the Bayuemas Oval, Nepal took its tally to six points after beating Hong Kong by seven wickets in a rain-affected game.

Nepal, having put Hong Kong in to bat, bowled its opponent out for 181 in 41.5 overs. Opener Irfan Ahmed batted through the innings, scoring a century in the bargain. He faced 115 balls for his 106, in which he hit ten fours and three sixes, while no other Hong Kong batsman scored above 18.

Irfan shared an opening stand of 71 in 11.4 overs with Waqas Barkat (16) before Hong Kong lost wickets in a heap to be reduced to 117 for 5. He then added 52 runs for the sixth wicket with Roy Lamsam, before his team lost its last five wickets for 12 runs. Medium pacer Sompal Kami took four wickets, while left-arm spinner Basant Regmi finished with three.

Despite Irfan adding to his earlier century with two wickets, Nepal opener Naresh Budayir kept his team in the chase with a solid 41. The match was, however, interrupted by rain in the 28th over, with Nepal on 121 for 3. Set a revised target of 147 in 38 overs, captain Paras Khadka and Sharad Vesawkar took Nepal home without losing any further wickets. Khadka remained unbeaten on 43 off 52 balls.

United Arab Emirates beat Malaysia comfortably by six wickets to win its second match of the tournament at the Kinrara Academy Oval. Chasing 159, UAE cruised home in just 25.4 overs, thanks to Amjad Ali laying the foundation with a 49-ball 43 and Shaiman Anwar taking the team home with an unbeaten 33-ball 53.

Opting to field, UAE put Malaysia on the back foot with a double-strike from Mohammad Naveed in the seventh over. After an opening stand of 39, Malaysia slumped to 74 for 5 before a 54-run partnership between Suharril Fetri and Hammadullah Khan steadied the innings. UAE bowlers struck back to take the last five wickets for 30 runs, restricting Malaysia to 158.

Fayyaz Ahmed, the left-arm spinner, returned figures of 3 for 12 in 4.4 overs.